The Skougaards married June 2, 1956, in Washington, D.C., while living in New York City. They moved to California in 1958.

Bob was an 82nd Airborne paratrooper and a recent World War II Honor Flight participant. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from George Washington University and a master’s degree in labor relations from New York University. While living in New York, he worked at New York Telephone. He retired in 1992 after 20 years with Levi Strauss in San Francisco.

Mary earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Stanford University and a special NBC-Stanford Radio/TV Institute certificate. She managed Stanford’s KZSU radio station and worked for KNBC Radio in San Francisco. She was employed in New York City as a national television sales representative. After moving back to California, she worked for local technical publications firms until she retired from the workforce to devote her time to motherhood and school volunteer activities.

The Skougaards have one daughter, Lynette, and two grandchildren, Melissa and Anthony.

The couple spent their 60th anniversary with their family in San Diego.